Many people don’t realize an HVAC unit is a luxurious feature for their homes. Without heating, ventilation and air conditioning, most people forget to appreciate their systems and in return, their systems aren’t properly given maintenance and parts break.
How do you know which HVAC system is right for your home?
An HVAC system is composed of three types of different variants; heating, air conditioning and ventilation. Let’s break them each down into simple-to-understand terms:
Heating
- For Residential purposes: Heat pump, condensing or pulse furnaces, oil, gas or electric hot water radiant systems, and forced air gas system.
- Electric or gas boiler (hot water and steam) with heat exchangers.
Ventilation
- Attic exhaust fans, various types of indoor fan units, ceiling fans.
- Fair handling units including single zone, multi-zone, and double ducts, Exhaust fans, and constant air volume boxes with reheat.
Air Conditioning
- Central air split systems, Window units, wall mounted split systems, and evaporative cooling systems.
- Chilled water systems, Water cooled and direct expansion room units and Rooftop direct expansion.
In the HVAC, an air-conditioner is usually central air types consisting of an interior and exterior unit with specialized components. The main features and functioning of an HVAC unit are:
- HVAC systems are connected to each other via specialized power cables and refrigerant lines
- A refrigerant circulates through these lines which change a gas into a liquid and vice-versa
- There is also an evaporator where the liquid refrigerant changes to a gaseous state and absorbs heat to produce constant cool air
- The gaseous refrigerant moves to the condenser returning into its liquid form. While in liquid form, the refrigerant releases heat and disperses it into the outdoor air, repeating the cycle many times, to provide consistent indoor comfort and convenience.
Furnaces: Another common type of HVAC units are furnaces. In these HVAC units, the fuel is provided through an on-site storage tank that is filled up periodically by a fuel supplier or from the supply lines of a local utility company.
One of the popular choices among HVAC furnaces is the electric ones. However, they are more operationally expensive as they produce heating via heating elements that warm up when an electrical current passes through them.
Air-source heat pumps: Heat pumps are another HVAC system with a residential utility that works on a process involving the refrigerant. However, their function involves capturing heat and moving it from place to place.
During the heat production, the outdoor coils serve as the evaporator. When producing cooling, the indoor coils work as the evaporator and the refrigerant flow is reversed.
During cooling operations, the refrigerant changes the state indoors to gaseous by absorbing heat which is then circulated outdoors to release the heat. This cycle continues for the optimal functioning of the heat pumps.
Regardless of which option is best for your household, BMC Clower has your back! Give us a call to speak with an experienced HVAC unit specialist. We’ll have a technician travel to your home and review your current set-up and then the two of you can discuss the best options for your home.
